Merrick Studios

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Channel • 6 Shows

Basketball

Basketball

Updated Weekly
Music Commentary

Music Commentary

Updated Weekly
Society & Culture

Society & Culture

Updated Weekly
Sports

Sports

Updated Weekly
Management

Management

Updated 10/30/2025
Marketing

Marketing

Updated Weekly

5D AGO

April Walker on Brooklyn Roots, Streetwear, and Building Legacy

Send us a text This week on Mixed and Mastered, Jeffrey Sledge sits down with April Walker — fashion pioneer, cultural architect, and the founder of Walker Wear, one of the brands that helped define modern streetwear before it had a name. April traces her journey from Bed-Stuy and Clinton Hill to the clubs, studios, and streets of ’80s New York, where hip-hop, style, and entrepreneurship collided. She breaks down how Walker Wear was built from the culture outward, the story behind her iconic WW logo, and how word-of-mouth turned her designs into a movement — from early hip-hop artists to Mike Tyson making history in the ring. They also talk legacy: being a woman in a male-dominated industry, protecting her IP, walking away at the height of success, and what’s next as she approaches 40 years of Walker Wear. This is Mixed and Mastered with April Walker. Support the show Mixed and Mastered is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio, and hosted by music industry veteran, Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to the discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @MixedandMasteredPod to join the conversation and check out all our episodes at www.wearemerrickstudios.com/mixed-and-mastered-pod

5d ago

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1h 5m
23H AGO

Alumni Weekend Live from The Nest

We’re live from The Nest (yes… it’s officially called that now 👀) for Alumni Weekend at Juniata—starting with our Wilkes pregame show, a parade of alumni guests, and the long-awaited recap of the 2026 Ed Mansberger Alumni Game. Team Blue and Team Gold went to war in a defensive slugfest that somehow still felt like a track meet emotionally. We break down the chirping, the “fraternizing” scandal in the Catholic student section, and the moment the score finally becomes official. Plus, alumni guests stop by with life updates (new jobs, new towns, weddings, babies, firefighting, nursing, coaching, PA school), predictions for the stretch run, and a whole lot of love for what this program has become. Notes: We had a couple audio hiccups in the postgame segment, so we patched in reflections to wrap the weekend.The in-game audio from the alumni game is (allegedly) missing. We’re not naming names… but we’re also not not naming names.Send a text Support the show The Juniata Men's Basketball Show is produced and distributed by Merrick Studios and hosted by lifelong friends Tom Frank, Drew "Biz" Besket, and Head Juniata Basketball Coach Greg Curley. Got a question for the guys? Please contact us through Instagram @JuniataBasketballShow. Please subscribe to the show on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts, leave us a rating on apple and spread the word #EaglesNation. Juniata College basketball is part of the The Landmark Conference, an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division III.

23h ago

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1h 8m
FEB 4

Meaningful Games & Alumni Weekend Energy

It’s a big one for Juniata hoops: Catholic on Wednesday, Alumni Weekend vs. Wilkes on Saturday, and zero room for coasting. The crew opens with a great listener question on what alumni should feel when they come back—Coach Curley’s answer says it all: play hard, play with heart, play for each other. From there, it’s a look back at last week’s results, highlighted by a 62–43 defensive rock fight win over Susquehanna and a tough road loss at Scranton that sharpens the focus heading into a brutal stretch. Biz hands out the game balls, the playoff picture comes into view, and Coach Nick Hager joins to preview Alumni Weekend—full schedule, postgame plans, and the always-heated Team Blue vs. Team Gold alumni game, complete with the drafting of new faces that adds fresh fuel to an already loud rivalry. Meaningful games, familiar faces, new blood, and a program that still looks and feels like Juniata basketball. Send us a text Support the show The Juniata Men's Basketball Show is produced and distributed by Merrick Studios and hosted by lifelong friends Tom Frank, Drew "Biz" Besket, and Head Juniata Basketball Coach Greg Curley. Got a question for the guys? Please contact us through Instagram @JuniataBasketballShow. Please subscribe to the show on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts, leave us a rating on apple and spread the word #EaglesNation. Juniata College basketball is part of the The Landmark Conference, an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division III.

Feb 4

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46 min
11/26/2025

Dyana Williams on Breaking Barriers, Building Institutions & Owning Our Narrative

Send us a text In this powerhouse episode of Mixed and Mastered, Jeffrey sits down with the incomparable Dyana Williams — radio icon, cultural architect, co-founder of Black Music Month, longtime Philly International insider, and the heartbeat behind some of the most important stories in Black American music. From her Harlem and Bronx roots to her early days as “Ebony Moonbeams,” Dyana walks us through a five-decade career that includes: Breaking into radio at CCNY and WHURLearning under the legendary Frankie Crocker at WBLSWorking across TV at BET, VH1, and PM MagazineA front-row seat to Philadelphia International Records during its golden eraFounding the National Museum of African American Music in NashvilleHer lifelong mission to preserve, protect, and elevate Black music and its creatorsAnd of course… the origin story of Black Music Month, from the White House lawn with Jimmy Carter to official national recognitionDyana’s stories reach from the Apollo to the Oval Office, from D’Angelo to Teddy Pendergrass, and from Harlem stoops to global stages. It’s a living masterclass in culture, community, and the power of music to move the world. This is history told by someone who made it. Buckle up — This is Mixed and Mastered with Dyana Williams. Support the show Mixed and Mastered is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio, and hosted by music industry veteran, Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to the discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @MixedandMasteredPod to join the conversation and check out all our episodes at www.wearemerrickstudios.com/mixed-and-mastered-pod

11/26/2025

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1h 14m
04/22/2025

Faith Newman

Send us a text This week on Mixed and Mastered, we sit down with the incomparable Faith Newman — a true architect of hip-hop history and a champion of timeless music. From cataloging records as a kid to co-executive producing Illmatic and signing legends like Nas, Jamiroquai, and The Isley Brothers, Faith’s journey is nothing short of iconic. As one of the first five employees at Def Jam and now EVP at Reservoir, she’s spent four decades shaping culture—always with a sharp ear, real passion, and a strict no asshole policy. Tap in for a conversation with the woman who’s kept the soul of the music alive. Support the show Mixed and Mastered is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio, and hosted by music industry veteran, Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to the discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @MixedandMasteredPod to join the conversation and check out all our episodes at www.wearemerrickstudios.com/mixed-and-mastered-pod

04/22/2025

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56 min
JAN 14

Part 1 - Live From the Palestra: Guinness, Grit, and a Statement Win in Philly

We went LIVE from Philadelphia—quarter-mile from the Cathedral of College Basketball—and things escalated quickly. From pregame pints and cheesesteaks at the New Deck Tavern to press-row seats at the Palestra, this episode captures an all-time Juniata hoops day. In Part 1, you’ll hear alumni, parents, former players, first-time guests, and one very official executive producer weigh in as the Eagles chase a momentum-shifting conference win. We talk drums (still no drum), Eagles chants (the Philly kind and the Juniata kind), Landmark rivalries, leadership, belief, and why this game felt different from the jump. This one’s part road trip, part roundtable, part love letter to Division III hoops—and 100% Juniata energy. Fly Eagles fly. 🦅 Send us a text Support the show The Juniata Men's Basketball Show is produced and distributed by Merrick Studios and hosted by lifelong friends Tom Frank, Drew "Biz" Besket, and Head Juniata Basketball Coach Greg Curley. Got a question for the guys? Please contact us through Instagram @JuniataBasketballShow. Please subscribe to the show on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts, leave us a rating on apple and spread the word #EaglesNation. Juniata College basketball is part of the The Landmark Conference, an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division III.

Jan 14

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1h 18m
JAN 14

Part 2 - Live From the Palestra: Guinness, Grit, and a Statement Win in Philly

We are back for Part 2 of our LIVE event from Philadelphia—quarter-mile from the Cathedral of College Basketball—and things escalated quickly. From pregame pints and cheesesteaks at the New Deck Tavern to press-row seats at the Palestra, this episode captures an all-time Juniata hoops day. The ball tips and Juniata delivers a wire-to-wire statement at the Palestra. Postgame reactions, press conference audio, Player of the Game honors, and reflections on what it means to win the right way in one of the most historic gyms in basketball. This one’s part road trip, part roundtable, part love letter to Division III hoops—and 100% Juniata energy. Fly Eagles fly. 🦅 Send us a text Support the show The Juniata Men's Basketball Show is produced and distributed by Merrick Studios and hosted by lifelong friends Tom Frank, Drew "Biz" Besket, and Head Juniata Basketball Coach Greg Curley. Got a question for the guys? Please contact us through Instagram @JuniataBasketballShow. Please subscribe to the show on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts, leave us a rating on apple and spread the word #EaglesNation. Juniata College basketball is part of the The Landmark Conference, an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division III.

Jan 14

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44 min
12/18/2025

Owen Hanson (The Cocaine Quarterback): Fame, Fallout & the Fight Back

This might be the wildest story we’ve ever told on Unglossy — and that’s saying something. This week, Bun B, Jeffrey Sledge, and Tom Frank sit down with Owen Hanson, better known as The California Kid or The Cocaine Quarterback. Once a USC walk-on turned national champion, Owen’s life took a sharp left turn from the football field into international drug trafficking, cartel money, federal prison, and headlines that sound fictional until you realize they’re not. Fresh off the Amazon Prime docuseries Cocaine Quarterback, Owen breaks his silence on what really happened — from how the documentary came together, to what it got right (and what it couldn’t fully show), to how you rebuild an identity when your name becomes a cautionary tale. This isn’t a glamorized crime story. It’s a raw conversation about ambition, ego, consequences, survival, and second chances. We talk life inside prison, hustling legally and illegally, the mindset it takes to endure a decade behind bars, and how Owen turned a mop bucket, protein powder, and sheer will into a legitimate business on the outside. From USC glory to federal time… and from rock bottom to redemption — this episode is about what happens after everything falls apart. No polish. No excuses. Just the truth. This is Unglossy. "Unglossy" is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio and hosted by Bun B, Tom Frank and Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to hear this thought-provoking discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @UnglossyPod to join the conversation and check out all our episodes at https://wearemerrickstudios.com/unglossy-pod. Send a text Support the show

12/18/2025

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59 min
JAN 26

Steve Carless on Relationships, Risk, and Turning Culture Into Longevity

Send us a text This week on Mixed and Mastered, Jeffrey Sledge sits down with Steve Carless, a senior creative executive whose 20+ year career spans Def Jam, Atlantic Records, and the front lines of modern artist development. From studying liner notes as a kid in New Jersey to shaping careers for artists like YG, Jeezy, Pusha T, 2 Chainz, Big Sean, and Nipsey Hussle, Steve breaks down how relationships, risk-taking, and cultural intuition drive longevity in the music business. Steve shares never-told stories from the Star Trak and Jay-Z–era Def Jam days, the rise of mixtape culture as a marketing engine, developing YG’s My Krazy Life, working alongside Nipsey Hussle, and earning Grammy recognition through projects with Beyoncé. This conversation is a masterclass in A&R instincts, creative leadership, and building careers that last beyond the moment. This is Mixed and Mastered with Steve Carless. Support the show Mixed and Mastered is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio, and hosted by music industry veteran, Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to the discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @MixedandMasteredPod to join the conversation and check out all our episodes at www.wearemerrickstudios.com/mixed-and-mastered-pod

Jan 26

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1h 3m
JAN 28

Jay Paterno: Happy Valley, Hard Truths, and Blitzed!

Where you’re from doesn’t just shape you — it frames how you understand power, loyalty, and loss. Bun B is Houston to the core. Jeffrey Sledge carries New York City wherever he goes. And for Tom Frank, everything starts in State College, Pennsylvania — a town where fall Saturdays felt sacred, Penn State football felt pure, and Happy Valley felt like a place untouched by the rest of the world. Today's guest, Jay Paterno, grew up at the center of that belief system. As a former Penn State assistant coach, trustee, writer, and the son of the late Joe Paterno, Jay lived inside one of the most revered cultures in college sports — and then watched it unravel in public. He speaks openly about legacy, leadership, media narratives, and what it costs to stand inside a storm you can’t control. Not from a distance, but from inside his own family. This isn’t just a backward-looking conversation. Jay takes the same clear-eyed approach to the modern game — NIL, the transfer portal, revenue sharing, gambling, donor influence — and explains why college athletics is no longer what it pretends to be. His new book - BLITZED! The All-Out Pressure of College Football's New Era - pulls back the curtain on a system stretched to its limits, where pressure, money, and identity collide every Saturday. This episode isn’t about defending the past. It’s about context, consequence, and where the game is headed. "Unglossy" is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio and hosted by Bun B, Tom Frank and Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to hear this thought-provoking discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @UnglossyPod to join the conversation and check out all our episodes at https://wearemerrickstudios.com/unglossy-pod. Send a text Support the show

Jan 28

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1h 6m

Merrick Studios’ full-service live and virtual podcasting solutions empower “artists” of their trade to reach, educate and inspire new audiences with ease. Our thematic direction amplifies their message, production and editing capture and shape it, and hosting and distribution delivers truly engaging stories to thousands through a popularized medium that has become invaluable. Our expertise doesn’t end there, as marketing and monetizing podcasts grows them into hardworking, growth-oriented brand assets.

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Merrick Studios

Top Shows

April Walker on Brooklyn Roots, Streetwear, and Building Legacy

Alumni Weekend Live from The Nest

Meaningful Games & Alumni Weekend Energy

Dyana Williams on Breaking Barriers, Building Institutions & Owning Our Narrative

Faith Newman

Part 1 - Live From the Palestra: Guinness, Grit, and a Statement Win in Philly

Part 2 - Live From the Palestra: Guinness, Grit, and a Statement Win in Philly

Owen Hanson (The Cocaine Quarterback): Fame, Fallout & the Fight Back

Steve Carless on Relationships, Risk, and Turning Culture Into Longevity

Jay Paterno: Happy Valley, Hard Truths, and Blitzed!

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Merrick Studios

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